Carlos Lacerda

Carlos Lacerda (30 April 1914-21 May 1977) was a Brazilian politician who was the leader of the conservative National Democratic Union of Brazil.

Biography
Carlos Lacerda was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and he was sympathetic to left-wing ideals while he was a law student, but he came to become a staunch anti-communist and conservative during the 1940s. He worked as a journalist before being elected to the legislative chamber of Rio de Janeiro in 1947, and, in 1950, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies as a National Democratic Union of Brazil member. He became well known for his opposition to Getulio Vargas, and he demanded his overthrow. In August 1954, Lacerda survived an assassination attempt by the leader of Vargas' personal bodyguards, leading to a political crisis that culminated with Vargas' suicide. From 1960 to 1965, he served as Governor of Guanabara, and he supported the 1964 Brazilian coup d'etat. However, the military cancelled the 1965 elections, and Lacerda failed to restore democracy in Brazil. He died in 1977 from a heart attack.